This is a compilation of the most Frequently Asked Questions received by the School and the doctoral programs. The questions are organized into seven thematic sections covering doctoral study regulations, the structure and organization of the School, and key administrative and academic procedures that doctoral students are required to complete.
What is the EDIUS?
We are the center that coordinates doctoral studies at USC. Our activity is governed by the Internal Regulations and the Doctoral Studies Regulations, both officially approved by the University’s Governing Council and available in the Archive section of the institutional website.
EDIUS>Archive
How can I contact you?
The website and the nEDIUS electronic newsletter are the two official communication channels for everything related to your doctoral studies.
For specific inquiries, please contact the appropriate email address based on the topic:
- Training activities: edius.formacion [at] usc.es (edius[dot]formacion[at]usc[dot]es)
- Doctoral theses: edius.teses [at] usc.es (edius[dot]teses[at]usc[dot]es)
- Admissions, enrollment processes, leaves of absence, dedication type, extensions, and continuation: doutoramento [at] usc.es (doutoramento[at]usc[dot]es)
- Research Plan and annual reports: edius [at] usc.es (edius[at]usc[dot]es)
For all other queries, contact the general EDIUS email: edius [at] usc.es (edius[at]usc[dot]es)
Where can I find the updated documentation required during my PhD?
All official administrative and regulatory documentation is available in the Archive section of the website. You can search by category or enter keywords in the search bar. In the Forms and Models section, you will find all the necessary forms you may need throughout your doctoral studies.
EDIUS>Archive
EDIUS>Forms and models
How do I report issues related to my PhD studies?
First, contact your doctoral program via email.
If you need to file a complaint, you may do so through the Office for the Analysis of Complaints (OAR).
If you wish to file an appeal, you must do so through the Electronic Office.
Where can I find information on the rights and responsibilities of everyone involved in doctoral studies?
You can find this information in the EDIUS Code of Good Practice, available in the Archive section of the institutional website, and in the Documentary Supervision Agreement, available in your Virtual Secretariat.
EDIUS>Archive
Where can I find the information I need to complete first-year procedures on the website?
EDIUS>PhD Students>Student monitoring
What is the Documentary Supervision Agreement (CDS in Spanish)?
It is a mandatory document that formalizes the agreement between all parties involved in a doctoral thesis: the PhD student, supervisor, tutor, and the doctoral program coordinator. You can find all the relevant information in the Student Monitoring section of the institutional website:
EDIUS>PhD Students>Student monitoring
When do I have to submit the Research Plan?
Please check the academic calendar for the corresponding academic year in the Calendar section of our website:
EDIUS>PhD Students>Calendar
What are they?
Each year, EDIUS offers a series of training activities for all PhD students, aimed at developing the skills needed during the thesis stage. These activities are organized by theme, and the official announcement for the current year can be found in the Training section of the website:
EDIUS>Training
How much do they cost?
They are free of charge.
Are they mandatory?
This depends on the doctoral program in which you are enrolled — some activities may be mandatory. You can also consult your coordinator to identify which training activities best align with your academic and research profile.
How do I get my certificate?
If you successfully complete the activity — including both the evaluation test and follow-up requirements (such as tasks and at least 80% attendance) — you will receive a certificate by email.
Where can I find information to carry out the procedures for thesis submission on your website?
EDIUS>Thesis>Defense request
What is the deadline to start the thesis submission process?
The deadline appears in your Virtual Secretary under “Due date,” even if that day falls on a holiday or non-teaching period. You can start the submission process via the Electronic Office.
Do I have to renew my registration to submit the thesis?
Only if you begin the thesis submission process after August 31.
If the thesis title differs from that in the Research Plan, how can I change it?
Before starting the thesis submission process, go to the Virtual Secretary Office, where you can modify your Research Plan to update the title. This change must be approved by the Academic Committee of your Doctoral Programme (CAPD).
Note: The language of the Research Plan must match the language of the thesis.
Should I always include an abstract written in Galician in the thesis?
No, only if the thesis is written in a language other than Galician or Spanish. In that case, the abstract must contain at least 3,000 words.
Where can I find information about the different thesis defense modalities?
EDIUS>Thesis>Types of thesis
What documentation must I submit to defend my thesis?
All required documents are listed in the checklist. You can find the necessary forms and templates on our website.
EDIUS>Forms and models
When should I send the electronic copy of my thesis?
The program will request the submission of an electronic version of your thesis as a PDF file without signatures or password protection.
For theses submitted as a compendium of publications or theses with copyright restrictions, you must submit two separate PDF files. More information is available under the Types of thesis subsection.
EDIUS>Thesis>Types of thesis
Where can I find information about the start of the period for public thesis presentation?
You will receive an email from EDIUS. The date for thesis submission will be based on when the CAPD sends its report to EDIUS.
At which Examination Committee meeting will my thesis be discussed?
Theses are discussed during the first meeting of the EDIUS Examination Committee after the end of the public display period (10 days).
If the last day of the public display coincides with the meeting date, the thesis will be discussed at the following meeting.
Can the School request that I submit a revised PDF file?
After the Committee meeting, if revisions are required, you will receive an email asking you to resubmit the PDF with the requested changes or to clarify any content-related information.
Unless explicitly stated in the email, the revised document will not be discussed in a new meeting but will be reviewed by Committee members to verify that the requested modifications were made.
How will I be notified if my thesis has been approved by the EDIUS Executive Committee?
You will receive an email notifying you of the Executive Committee’s appointment and the authorization to proceed with your defense. This email and the attached documents will include all the information about the next steps: fee payment, Teseo file, notifying the School of your defense date, and where to find relevant information for each process.
What types of public defences are accepted at USC?
At USC, thesis defenses can be held face-to-face or remotely (blended or fully online defense).
EDIUS>Thesis>Defence Modalities
Do I need to submit my thesis to USC if I am defending it at another university under a cotutelle agreement?
Yes. You must deposit your thesis at USC regardless of whether you are defending it by cotutelle at USC or another university.
How can I prepare my thesis presentation for the defense?
There is no fixed duration for the defense presentation, though typically 50 minutes to one hour is allowed. However, the chair of the examining committee will inform you of the exact duration on the day of the defense.
How will I find out my thesis grade?
The Academic Management Service will notify you of your grade via email. Once you receive this information, you must submit the certification and pay the relevant fees.
How do I know if I have to submit documents electronically?
On our website, you will find information about which procedures require electronic submission and, if applicable, a link to the form created by the School for specific processes (e.g., thesis submission, applications for extraordinary doctoral awards).
Can I send documents to the Electronic Office at any time?
The Electronic Office operates 24/7 throughout the year. For example, if the deadline to start the thesis submission process falls on a Sunday, that day will be the last day to submit. The School will process your request on the following Monday.
What should I do if I have a problem submitting an application via the Electronic Office?
In that case, you should send an email to USC Computer Services at: cau [at] usc.es (cau[at]usc[dot]es) describing the problem. We recommend including screenshots to provide more details.
At EDIUS, we also recommend sending us a copy of that email so we are aware of the issue, especially if the deadline is approaching.
Can I carry out procedures in the Electronic Office any day of the year?
Yes, but any procedures carried out on a non-working day (see here) will be considered as submitted on the next working day.
What regulations govern the calculation of deadlines in the Electronic Office for any administrative procedure at the School?
Article 31.2 of Law 39/2015, of October 1st, on the Common Administrative Procedure of Public Administrations, states the following regarding deadline calculation in electronic records: “2. The electronic registration of each administrative office or organization will follow, for the purposes of calculating deadlines, the official date and time of the electronic office, which must have the necessary security measures to guarantee its integrity and be accessible and visible.”
Therefore, the time zone used to calculate deadlines at the University of Santiago de Compostela is Spanish peninsular time.
Additionally, the Resolution of August 3, 2021, governing the Regulation of digital transformation, electronic administration, and the development of ICT at USC, specifies in Article 17.1: “1. The electronic registration of USC allows the submission of letters, requests, and communications 24/7 throughout the year; however, certain forms will only be available within the periods indicated in the corresponding call.”